Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-07-26
SCOTTISH RITE REVOLT.
A Probable Outbreak Among High
Degree Kentucky Masons.
Cerneaus Rite Masons the Dis
misunderstanding Contrary
to the Laws of the Order.

LOUISVILLE, KY, July 25.-An out
break of the Scottish rite war seems to
threaten Kentucky Masonry. Some
months ago, what is known as the ssCer-
neau Rite" Mascns, became active in this
state. They organized a consistory in
Louisville, with about fifty members.
On Monday, July 18, Ferdinand J.. S.
Gorgas, Most Potent Sovereign Grand
Commander Ancient and Accepted Scot
fish Rite FOR the United States, its terri
tories and dependencies, assisted by il
lustrious brothers John S.. Hopkins, NJ.
w. Bayliss, and C. T.. Hill, organized
Frankfort Consistory, No. 35, at Frank
fort. Among the charter members were
Governor j. Proctor Knott, z. E. c.; j.
M. Sanel, Z. CIR. O.; Joseph Stafford, p.
=. CIV. K~attenbrum. E. G., and other
prominent Masons. Kentucky now has
three consistories owning allegiance to
this body, in all numbering 175 members.
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
Masons who claim exclusively the terri
tory of Kentucky, aud have hitherto had
undisturbed recognition, are preparing to
make vigorous opposition to the en-
croachmont of the ~"Cerneaus,' :, They are
under Albert Pike, of Washington. as
Supreme Grand Commander of the
Southern Division of Scottish Rite Ma
sons, and, with the Northern division un-
der Hsny L. Palmer, OF Chicago, Supreme
Grand Commander, claim the exclusive
right to establish Scottish Rite bodies in
the United States.
They say they derive their powers from
the constitution of 1862 and 1885 and the
supreme council organized in Charleston,
S. c., in 1901, which was the mother OF
all Scottish Rite Masonry. They were
recognized by the twenty-six supreme
councils of Scottish Rite Masons that act
together. They have for thirty-four
years held u%ndisputed control in Ken
lucky. They claim that the stCerneaus,'
are divided into two factions, the Peck
ham and the Atwood. both having head
quarters in New York, and In this disa-
greement show that they are not pos
sessed of the true principles which they
profess to hold. Also, the "Cerneaus,,'
by readiness to accept Invitations to meet
with the southern jurisdiction Masons,
acknowledge their irregular aud unrecog-
n1zed position. They charge that the
"Cerneaus'' are selling the degrees of the
Scottish Rite for $15, whereas the proper
price is $40. The aCerneaus'' on the
other hand, hold that of the $I1O charged
by the southern jurisdiction, $s5 goes to
enrich, without reaso N, their leader.
Albert Pike. no this the southern jnris.
diction answers that not one dollar goes
to Albert Pike. He is not wealthy and
therefore could not have grown wealthy
off the order, He has a fine library, but
that 10 the property of the order.
The other branch Of Masons, the York
Rite, In Kentucky, has heretofore held
off from the dispute. They have con
tented themselves with sa yinRithst the
aCerneausn We're violating the American
principle OF exclusive right to territory.
This principle, they say, is thoroughly
well established, and the violation OF ii
Is q serious offense. With the increased
activity of the 'tC%erneaus" it is probable.
however, that the York Rite Masons will
begin active opposition. They hold that it
is % quarrel In which they are not con-
cerned till it threatens serious trouble to
the general body. Then they are bound
to act as q matter of self-protection. In
Ohio and other states where the same
trouble has arisen, tho general body OF
Masons have made 1t an offense to Join
aCerneaus, and in some instances have
expelled members for it. Tho charters OF
lodges have been arrested and other
strong measures adopted to put down the
broil that they think threatens seriously
| to weaken Freemas0nry.